Cataract, in short, is the opacity of the eye lens, which is located behind the pupil and allows the person to see, losing its transparent structure. Cataracts lead to poor eyesight and cause the person’s visual clarity to decrease. Cataract usually begins with the lens’ transparency becoming cloudy and stained glass-like. As a result, vision-related complaints occur. When the cataract matures, objects appear blurry. Cataracts cause problems such as eye fatigue and headaches in people.
Symptoms
• Decrease in vision day by day
• Reading becomes difficult
• The person sees colors that are darker than before.
• Difficulty in night vision
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Double vision
• Frequent change of glasses prescriptions
What Causes Cataract?
Cataracts usually occur due to aging-related reasons. As a result of aging, the lens of the eye becomes dull and cataracts occur. Apart from this, using medications containing high cortisone is also among the factors that increase the risk of cataracts. Cataracts may also occur due to hereditary reasons, regardless of any disease. It will be possible to list the causes of cataracts as follows:
• It may occur depending on age.
• It is possible to be seen together with metabolic diseases in newborns.
• It may occur as a result of blows to the eye.
• It can be seen in people suffering from diabetes.
• It may occur as a result of problems such as inflammation in the eye.
• It may occur after cortisone use.
Cataract formation usually occurs due to age. Cataracts are seen in the same way as graying of hair and wrinkles are seen in the elderly. Apart from this, genetic factors, eye traumas and excessive exposure to sunlight also cause this problem.
Risk Factors for Cataract
Risk factors that accelerate the development of cataracts can be listed as follows:
• Increasing age
• Diabetes disease
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• High blood pressure disorder
• Eye injuries
• Inflammations in the eyes
• Previous eye surgeries
• Corticosteroid type drug use
• Excessive use of alcohol
How Is Cataract Diagnosed?
Cataract occurs when the lens, which is normally transparent like glass, loses its transparency. It can also be referred to colloquially as putting a veil on the eyes. The diagnosis of cataract is made by biomicroscopic examination of the eye. Once a cataract begins to form, there is no medication to slow or stop it. Therefore, after the diagnosis of this disease is made, the only treatment method is surgery.
The following methods can also be used when diagnosing cataracts:
• Visual acuity test
• Pupil dilation
Cataract Treatment
Cataract is a disease that cannot be treated with medication. A surgical intervention is definitely required. Cataract is a disease that needs to be treated when it begins to reduce the quality of vision and negatively affect the person’s daily life. Cataract treatment methods have improved greatly in recent years. Thanks to the artificial lenses used, people have the chance to see in a very natural way. During surgery, artificial lenses will be placed in the part of your eye where the natural lenses are.
Cataract is not a difficult surgery method for patients. Since the eye is anesthetized with a small amount of injection or drops, the patient does not feel any pain or ache. The duration of the surgery usually does not exceed half an hour. Therefore, it can be considered a simple surgery for patients.
Of course, just because the surgery is simple does not mean that this surgery can be performed easily everywhere. No matter how easy the surgery is, it must be performed by experienced eye surgeons in a hygienic operating room.
PHACO METHOD
Phaco method is one of the most preferred methods in cataract treatment. This method is popularly known as laser cataract surgery. In this treatment, ultrasonic wave powers are actually used, not laser beams. Thanks to the technique, the cataract is cleaned through a 2 mm surgical incision and intraocular lenses can be placed from the same point. This very small incision does not require stitches and will heal on its own. There are no stitches in the phaco method as in classical surgery, so this method is also called the seamless method among the public.
How to Prepare for Surgery?
Before the phaco method, the patient is examined. As a result of these examinations and tests, it is analyzed whether the patient is suitable for the method or not. If the patient is suitable for the method, he/she will be informed and an appointment will be made. After the examination, the patient can be taken into surgery on the same day and can be discharged immediately after the surgery. In other words, after this surgery, the patient can quickly return to his daily life.
What are the Steps of the Surgery?
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